A STROLL INTO THE PAST

4 min read

The Tangjiawan area is an ideal place to enjoy the vibrant and rich city life in aprofoundly cultural way Beyond the famous”must-see”landmarks like Tong Shao-yi’s Gongle Yuan(Paradise for All ) and his former residence, there’s much more that meets the eye and satisfies the soul. It only takes a leisurely walk through the nooks and crannies for all these well-kept secrets to reveal themselves When your travel-worn feet enter Huitong Village, you will be in an off-road territory that makes your “journey to the west ten-fold rewarding Westward from the coast and into a more bucolic area, Doumen is home to the city’s most distinguished folk singers, performers, and craftsmen, and boasts an ancient treet where one can sense a magnificent chapter in the history of zhuhai Shanfang road Promenade.

Tangjiawan

Tangjiawan”is，nevertheless，a somewhat misleading reference.It can refer to Tangjiawan Town，located in northern Zhuhai and in the city’s”High-tech Zone”.It can also refer to the village bearing the same name.However，the geographica definition of”Tangjiawan”is overshadowed by its cultural content.Tangjiawan”plays an important，if hidden，role in the cultural landscape of Zhuhai.the birthplace of a galaxy of illustrious individuals who changed the historical routes of modern China，today’s Tangjiawan is drawing new inspiration from the city’s ambitious economic and educational development，and is experiencing a popularity boom.

The cultural riches of Tangjiawan in a chinese stamp issued in 2013

hanfang road, or Shanfang neighborhood, is a must-visit for any cultural traveler Justifiably one of the city,’s chicest neighborhoods, Shanfang road is a vignette of the city’s cultural elegance and pride, brought alive and showcased in the texture of 21st century urban life .

Traversing historical Tangjiawan Town, the road and its labyrinth of backstreets accessible only by foot, are strewn with cultural gems”that make the 1.5km stretch avibrant rendezvous for young urban professionals and a hot tourist destination. While it retains a traditional Lingnan residential atmosphere, the road now has a growing expatriate presence with a foreign business community living in the area, attracted to the privileged location of the neighborhood. Shanfang road also has Zhuhai’s larg concentration of fine bookstores artsy eateries bakeries and coffee shops and holds a lively program of cultural events.

The best way to experience the charming neighborhood is setting off from the east atmosphere created by a raft of barbecue booths and confectionaries frequented B o end near Gangwan Avenue on foot. the promenade begins in the athletic, fun-lovin students from nearby Zhuhai campus of Sun Yat-sen University. The noise and excitement fades into tranquility as you walk the outer reaches of the road, like walking away from modern times into a simpler, slower life. Crowds are smaller, lines are shorter, and coffeehouse staff and pastry chefs have plenty of time to show off their products.

This charming spell grows stronger and reaches its peak about 500 meters into the 11 500-meter passage, when you bump into the red brick facade of Wangci Shanfang built by Tong Shao-yi for his mother, and providing the name of the road. In late Qing times and the early years of the republican Period, mail sent to Tangjia required no address-just the name was enough to ensure its delivery to this unmistakable spot Today, the dust on the Tangjiawan Post Office has been wiped away, but the significance of the refurbished building may be easy to miss in the hurried glances of tourists. however it is in this humble corner that the historical eminence of Tangjiawan rears its proud head.

The unassuming front of For Love Cafe, a household name among the city’s coffee lovers Walking further into the road’s maze of bifurcations, you will be in an exhilarating wonderland of architectural attractions with a smorgasbord of boutique shops, stylish hostels and eateries, more than sufficiently photogenic for crafting another In the Mood for Love by Wong Kar-wai. Be warned: don ‘t get so lost in de ja vu that you can’t make it back to reality The road then tapers down near the enclosing walls of Tong,s remaining estate Situated on the highest terrain in Tangjia Village, Tong Shao-yi’s former residence leads you into a world of refreshing solemnity, purified by thrushes singing their hearts out.

Alternatively, head all the way from the west tip, where the grandiose, operatic garden of the most remembered resident of Tangjiawan presents itself to you. a petite temple aces of the locals whiling away lazy afternoons in the lovely yard carpeted WAr .o nestles nearby deeply shaded under the age-old banyan tree. From the content delicate, rosy petals, one can be forgiven in making the assumption that the roads humble inhabitants somehow take their privileged residence for granted.